Jul 4, 2012

Dismissed

That picture right there sums up quite well just about how I feel. I see my republic beset upon all sides by strong forces, filled with blinding rage against things that they simply can’t comprehend… things that represent all that is right and good. In the last week, I have watched our Constitution that was so carefully and precisely crafted have its guts torn out and reinserted upside down. I have watched our Declaration of Independence, which was purchased at a high price, and defended over two centuries at even higher costs, be disregarded as we stood by and watched – our past monarchy of tyranny finally and fully replaced with a duly elected or appointed form of despotism that now derives its power from deceits, double-talks, and the creation of new and illegitimate methods of bending the constructs of the nation to make what was unlawful into the law of the land.

Four years ago, I wrote in this space while deployed in a far off, foreign land – Iraq. I now write from another land, even farther off and more foreign – Afghanistan. These are the conditions that make one all the more appreciative for a place such as the United States of America. Those who have only ever known freedom do not fully appreciate what it means. They will applaud as they watch parts of it taken away. They will nod as they agree to the removal of rights only because they do not personally exercise them, seeing no personal impact, and therefore no threat. Or even worse, they will stand and cheer as the hard work and savings of their neighbors is stolen at gunpoint to be redistributed to those “in need” – such as themselves – who feel they are owed this. They are “entitled”…

As Ronald Reagan reminded us,

Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.

I can only hope that I never have to tell my son any such thing, because he will still be living it for himself.

As a Marine, and defender of this great republic, I cannot – I WILL not – make any derogatory pronunciations about my chain of command, up to and including my Commander in Chief. As a private citizen, I can and will say this: I await this coming November with great anticipation.

All that being said, I will close with this. As noted before, this blog has become a bit cumbersome for me. Its design is out of date, I have become unfamiliar with the interface (which has totally changed to the point that I don’t recognize it), and I have had a steadily declining interest in coming here. Combine that with my current duties (of which I had little warning before being launched to the far side of the world) and I essentially have neither the time nor inclination to continue with this blog.

However, I think I still have some things to say and a few sea stories to tell. And so, at some point in the future, I would very much like to invite you all to some version of “Halls and Shores 2.0.” Just when, where and how that finally happens are anyone’s guess. But when it does, I will happily return to this space and let all (both) of you know. Until then, read a book.